Ingredients

For the Thai green curry paste -

1 tsp coriander seeds

1 tsp cumin seeds

1 shallot, finely chopped

4 green bird’s-eye chillies, chopped

4 garlic cloves, crushed

thumb-sized piece fresh root ginger, grated

1 lemongrass stalk, finely chopped

pinch salt

small bunch fresh coriander, stalks and leaves

2 dried kaffir lime leaves

1 tbsp fish sauce

pinch ground white pepper

For the curry -

1 tbsp vegetable oil

1 aubergine, cut into 2cm/1in chunks

1 x 400ml can coconut milk

2 tbsp Thai green curry paste (made above)

100g/3½oz fine green beans

100ml/3½fl oz chicken or vegetable stock

1 tbsp palm sugar, or caster sugar

1-2 tsp Thai fish sauce

500g/1lb 2oz raw, peeled king prawns

1 dried kaffir lime leaf

1 lime, zest and juice

Small bunch fresh coriander, chopped

Steamed jasmine rice, to serve

Directions

For the curry paste, lightly toast the coriander and cumin seeds in a dry frying pan, until fragrant.

Place the seeds into a pestle and mortar, and add the shallot, chillies, garlic, ginger, lemongrass and salt. Pound to a paste with the pestle. Alternatively, you can use a food processor to do this.

Cut the coriander stalks into chunks, and set aside the leaves for later. Add the coriander stalks and crumble the dried kaffir lime leaves to the mix, and continue to grind until fairly smooth.

Add the fish sauce and a pinch of white pepper, to season. The curry paste is now ready to use. If not using immediately, the paste can be stored in a jar topped with a little oil and will keep in the fridge for a couple of weeks.

For the curry, heat the vegetable oil in a wok or large frying pan over a medium heat. Add the chopped aubergines and fry for 4-5 minutes, until browned all over and starting to soften. Cook for another 10 minutes until the aubergines are golden-brown and softened.

Add the solid fat from the top of the can of coconut milk and then add the Thai green curry paste and fry for 2-3 minutes until the paste has cooked a little and is fragrant.

Add the remaining coconut milk, bring to the boil, then lower the heat to a simmer. Add the green beans and continue cooking for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Allow the coconut milk to reduce and thicken slightly before adding the chicken stock.

Add the sugar and the fish sauce to the curry.

Add the raw king prawns and cook for 3-5 minutes until they turn pink and are cooked through.

Crumble in the crushed kaffir lime leaf, fresh lime juice and zest, and chopped coriander.

Serve with steamed jasmine rice, and sprinkle over the reserved coriander leaves.